Oktoberfest closed in Munich after fatal blast and bomb threat

MUNICH/BERLIN: Munich’s Oktoberfest fairgrounds were shut down on Wednesday after police linked a bomb threat to a deadly explosion in the city’s north, forcing the world’s largest beer festival to remain closed until at least 5 p.m. (1500 GMT).

Authorities said the incident began with a residential building in northern Munich being deliberately set on fire during what they described as a domestic dispute. Explosions were heard in the area, and police later confirmed the discovery of booby traps inside the building. One person was found dead, while another remains missing but is not considered a threat to the public.

Special forces were deployed to defuse the explosives and secure the area. “We are currently investigating all possibilities,” Munich police said on WhatsApp. “Possible connections to other locations in Munich are being examined, including the Theresienwiese (where the Oktoberfest is located).”

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As a precaution, police evacuated workers from the Theresienwiese fairgrounds and conducted searches for potential explosive devices. City officials later confirmed that the festival grounds would remain shut until at least late afternoon.

The closure has cast a shadow over the 190th edition of Oktoberfest, which began on September 20 and was scheduled to run until October 5. The festival typically attracts around six million visitors from around the world, many in traditional Bavarian dress, to celebrate beer, food and music at Munich’s Theresienwiese.